Reactions to the Mount

We asked some of the people who attended today's launch of the Mount, what they thought of the building and what it would mean for community groups in Carmarthenshire.

Aled Davies, Llwynhendy Communities First Co-Ordinator

Rae Coope

Sue James-Davies from Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS)

The Mount Voluntary Action Centre is Officially Launched!

Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services' new base at The Mount Voluntary Action Centre has been officially launched.

The centre was opened by Gwenda Thomas AM, who unveiled a plaque.Here's a video of the unveiling:

Gwenda then addressed the audience with a speech highlighting the value that volunteers bring to society and the new opportunities offered to Carmarthenshire's voluntary and community sector through the new Centre for Voluntary Action. Also speaking at the official proceedings were:

Cllr Mair Stephens, Chair of CAVS, who welcomed the audience

Cllr Clive Scourfield, Executive Board Member for Regeneration, who reflected on the regeneration of The Mount

Bruce McLernon, Director of Social Care, Health and Housing for Carmarthenenshire County Council, who looked forward to the future of The Mount and the voluntary sector in Carmarthenshire.

CAVS Director Ieuan Williams, who celebrated the Compact document, an agreement between the voluntary sector (represented by CAVS) and Carmarthenshire County Council

Cllr Meryl Gravell, Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, who thanked all the speakers and ended the official proceedings.

Earlier Gwenda Thomas had enjoyed a tour of the new building guided by Cllr Mair Stephens, Chair of CAVS, and Ieuan Williams, CAVS director.

Looking at photos showing the progress of the building of The Mount

Gwenda meets staff from CAVS Volunteer Centre

Gwenda tries out the facilities in the recording studio with The Primitive Charitable Trust

Gwenda is presented with a diary by Sarah Williams (left) and Rhian Morris from Bigyn 4 Communities First, which CAVS operates

Meeting Giving Sir Gar Development Officer Helen Martin

Official Opening of CAVS At The Mount

CAVS new Carmarthen Offices at the Mount

The new home of the Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services (CAVS) will be officially unveiled on Friday. The Assembly’s Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas AM, will start proceedings at the launch of the service at the newly rebuilt Mount building in Carmarthen on February 27.

An open afternoon is being held at the building following official proceedings, from 2-7pm, when anyone is welcome to visit. A number of voluntary groups are due to showcase what they have to offer, and guided tours of the building will be offered.

CAVS has leased the building from Carmarthenshire County Council following its £1.9million redevelopment. The transformation was funded by the council’s Sites, Premises and Infrastructure for Employment Programme, Objective 1, the Local Regeneration Fund and the Big Lottery Fund. CAVS was successful in clinching over £200,000 from various sources to assist with the building costs from the Welsh Assembly’s Community Facilities and Activities Programme.

The once dilapidated building stands at the town’s Castle Hill gateway. The Mount is set to bring major benefits to the area and will provide a superb resource for volunteers, the wider community and voluntary groups. Facilities include room hire, desk hire and a media studio. Support available will include grant searches, charity governance, training and social enterprises development.

Carmarthenshire County Council Chief Executive Mark James said: “We are proud of what has been achieved in the regeneration of this site. We look forward to being equally as proud of the excellent work which we are sure will be undertaken by CAVS in this first class facility, and the huge numbers of people who get the help they need through this initiative.”

CAVS Director Ieuan Williams said: “CAVS represents over 650 voluntary groups in the county, and we will be ensuring that the closer links with the local authority can benefit and develop as many of those groups as possible. This building will be a wonderful resource for volunteers, and will allow us to build up better links with other community venues and voluntary services across the whole county.”

For further information contact CAVS on 01267 236367, or 01267 245550, or visit www.cavs.org.uk

Felinfoel Senior Citizens' Pancake Tea

In Felinfoel, the Senior Citizens group celebrated Pancake Day by holding an pancake tea at the Tirynys residential complex.

Each table photographed each other using Carmarthenshire Connect's mobile phone camera. Here are the photos they took:

The event was supported by Sheltered Scheme Officer Andrea Goodall (centre left)

Raffle winner Joan holds her prize

Ty Enfys Family Centre Celebrate Pancake Day

Members of Ty Enfys Family Centre celebrated pancake day yesterday with a pancake lunch and a pancake flipping competition.

Here are some of the photos taken by centre members using Carmarthenshire Connect's mobile phone camera:

The flipping competition begins!

Adam tries out pancake flipping

Congratulations Cheryl on winning the competition with a staggering 75 flips

Family Centre Co-ordinator Sharan Condon cooks the pancakes

The table of pancake toppings

Cheryl goes for strawberries and cream

The outside of Ty Enfys Family Centre in Llwynhendy

How to Make Pizza by the Girls Friendly Society

Carmarthenshire Connect met the Felinfoel branch of the Girls Friendly Society a few weeks ago.

The Girls Friendly Society was established in 1875 within the Anglican Church. It has become an international movement helping young women to help themselves by giving them opportunities to develop their potential ,persue ambitions and grow in confidence. The Society works with girls and women of all religious faiths and none.

The group was learning how to make pizza during the session which Carmarthenshire Connect attended. Members took photos and videos of the pizza-making process. Here are instructions written by the group for making pizza at home. They are accompanied by some the photos the group took.

Step 1 - wash hands

Step 2 - get a pizza base!

Step 3 - put tomato puree on base

Step 4 - add toppings

Step 5 - add seasoning

Step 6 - bake in over at 220/gas mark 7 for ten minutes until crisp and golden

Step 7 - EAT IT! :)

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Group members present their cooked pizzas

'IBU You Be Me' Filming Completed

The young people of Parc Yr Hun Youth Group have now successfully completed the filming required for their IBU You Be Me video.

The youth group interviewed each other and older residents of Parc Yr Hun, with the twist that younger residents were pretending to be older residents and vice versa.

Then everyone gave feedback as to whether the stereotypes impersonated gave a realistic picture of the lives of younger and older people today.

Parc Yr Hun Youth Group members with older Parc Yr Hun residents and Ann Richards, Community Development Officer for Pantyffynnon Communities First.

Rhunedd interviews local councillor Carol Cadman, who played 'Stephanie'. Stephanie spends her weekends "nicking things" to sell for drugs money, drinking cider and spending time with her boyfriend. Stephanie also thought that she had more opportunities than her parents because she could get a free house if she had a baby.

Here are videos of some of the youth group members explaining what they've learned so far on the IBU You Be Me video project:

Terry


Laura


Rhia

The group has started editing the video. The edit should be completed next week, when Carmarthenshire Connect will show the group how to add music and titles to the video.

Parc Yr Hun Youth Group Video Project

Carmarthenshire Connect has started working with the Parc yr Hun Youth Group on a new video project.

The group initially worked with Pantyffynnon Communities First to create a video idea: the young people decided that they'd like to make a short video about the how the older and younger residents of Parc yr Hun perceive each other.

Carmarthenshire Connect met with the group last week to plan how to make this video idea happen - from filming to editing - in four days. Today was the first of two filming days, before two days of editing.

The young people planned a video called IBU You Be Me. In the video, the young people will explore the perceptions that younger and older residents of Parc yr Hun have of one another by interviewing each other and older residents. The twist is that the young residents will pretend to be older residents and vice versa. This will hopefully reveal some interesting perceptions! Both young and older residents will then feedback on the interviews - explaining whether or not they thought the perceptions were accurate.

Today, Carmarthenshire Connect met the young people and Pantyffynnon Communities First in the meeting room of the 2Active8 cafe in Ammanford, our base for this mini-project. We brought our filming kit of a Sony camcorder, directional microphone and spot lamps, and showed the young people how to use the equipment to film their video.

Today's filming went very well, with everyone having a go at filming, positioning the microphone and directing. The interviews generated some interesting (and rather funny!) impressions.

Some of the Parc Yr Hun Youth Group with the filming gear

And 'action'!

Pantyffynnon Communities First Development Officer Ann Richards

Filming Rhunedd's introduction

A sketch of the video storyboard on the whiteboard

Work on Cwmgorse Heritage Garden Begins

Cwmgorse Village Forum met with Upper Amman Valley Communities First, WREN, Groundwork and children from Cwmgorse Primary School yesterday to mark the start of work on the new Cwmgorse Community Heritage Garden.

This is the Forum's press release:
A number of volunteers from the village of Cwmgorse have recently been successful in securing grant funding to renovate a disused piece of land at the heart of the village, into a Community Heritage Garden.

With the support of Groundwork and Upper Amman Valley Communities First, the volunteers have been able to secure monies from WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd), Neath and Port Talbot's Community Key Fund, Groundwork Bridgend & Neath Port Talbot and Communities First Trust Fund in order to transform the area of land situated on Heol Y Gors into a garden which the whole community can enjoy.

Meleri Jones from WREN said "We are looking for more groups in the area to submit applications as funding requests are currently low". Please contact WREN on 01953 714112 or visit their website at http://www.wren.org.uk/ for more information.

Children from Cwmgorse Primary School will be invited to contribute art work depicting local heritage. This work will be incorporated into the design of the garden. In addition to this, the school will be able to use the park as an open classroom in future.

Sylvan Contractors were awarded the tender, and begun work during the cold snap of last week. Members of the Forum would like to wish them luck.

The group have made enormous strides, and have worked extremely hard in reaching this point. The next few months will allow the group to witness their hard work come to fruition.

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Here are some of photos of the site and a video that that Forum Treasurer Jackie Domingo and Volunteer Kath Moore took using Carmarthenshire Connect's mobile phone camera:

Adrian Herdman, Chairman of Cwmgorse Village Forum

Pumpkin Patch Cookery Classes

This Tuesday saw the final Pumpkin Patch Cookery Class for children in the Antioch Centre, Glanymor & Tyisha. Organised by Communities First and delivered by Lisa Fearn from the Pumpkin Patch the last of the three sessions was again a great success with over 20 children and their parents attending from all areas of the local community to put their learning hats on and cook!

For this final session, the children cooked a full roast chicken dinner (yummy) which including home made Yorkshire pudding, stuffing and gravy and for desert a healthy fruit kebabs with melted chocolate.

Every aspect of the meal (apart from the very hot baking involved) was done by the children, from pealing the potatoes and making stuffing balls to skewing the fruit on the kebab sticks.

(The fun part - to taste their hard work - Yummy)

Consultations have shown that the classes have encouraged families to cook together, with children being more actively involved at home cooking and further encouraging their parents to cook more. Parents have also shown to have gained new skills through the classes as they were present through all classes in the project.

(The cooking team - Left to right - Joe, Rebecca, Lisa, Karen & Amy)

"The advantage of teaching children how to cook, is that then they ask their parents to cook more, with the children eating different types of foods and parents learning new skills" Lisa Fearn - Pumpkin Patch

"The sports, leisure, health and well being, and youth action groups have joint funded this series of cookery classes to encourage young people to learn essential cooking skills and enjoy home cooking with their families" Karen Gibbard - Communities First

"Probably the best fun that my sons and I have had together for a long time!" - Rebecca (Parent)

Educational Trip to National Wetlands Centre Wales

To celebrate World Wetlands Day 2009, the Glanymor & Tyisha Environment & Regeneration Action Group held an educational trip to the National Wetlands Centre Wales in Penclacwydd, Llanelli.

Arriving at the visitor centre

Glanymor & Tyisha Communities First supported the group with the planning of the trip. A tour by a member of the centre staff was organised. The tour was a good way of finding out more information about the amazing range of birds at the centre.

On our way back to the visitor centre

After viewing the birds and taking in the landscape of the centre, everyone returned to the visitor centre for a warm drink before using the interactive educational displays and having fun with the craft activities.

We, at Carmarthenshire Connect, brought our set of 10 digital cameras for people to take photos of the trip with. With so many magnificent birds to photograph, and such fervent use of the cameras by the children on the trip, over 450 photos were taken. All the photos will be collected together and put on discs so that everyone has copy of their and everyone else's photos.

Thanks to Bryony at Communities First for the photos above. Here is a selection of the photos taken by those on the trip:

The Flamingos!

New Glanymor & Tyisha Communities First Development Officer Bryony Wiffen

"Can we join you for lunch please?!"

One big tap, highlighting the importance of water conservation

Ffrindiau Felinfoel Friends

Ffrindiau Felinfoel held a meeting in January to plan their programme of community and fundraising events for 2009.

As you can image, it was a busy meeting for the group, but members took out a few minutes to try out Carmarthenshire Connect's Sony Ericsson mobile phone camera.

Group Secretary Susan Thomas has kindly provided this 'short history of Ffrindiau Felinfoel':

The group first got together in 1997. The National Eisteddfod was coming to Llanelli in the year 2000 and committees were being set up all over the area in order to raise money for the Eisteddfod. We at Felinfoel formed a committee and raised over £19,000.

We held concerts, one of our members held garden parties, fashion shows, treasure hunts, cookery demonstrations, poetry readings, etc. Our main event was an open day at Felinfoel Brewery. The management and staff at the Brewery have been very kind to us as a group and we continue to hold a special day at the Brewery. This year it will be held in the month of June. We produce a calendar every year with photographs of Felinfoel.

After the Eisteddfod, which was a great success, we as a committee decided that we would like to stay together and raise money for local good causes and this is when FFRINDIAU FELINFOEL FRIENDS was born. We meet about every month, usually on a Monday at 7.15. At the moment, the White Lion pub in Felinfoel allow us to meet in the back room.

We continue to hold events such as fashion shows, concert etc and we are very grateful for all the help we get form others outside the group. Our next event is a meal at the Harry Watkins pub, entertainment will be Welsh comedian Ifan J.C.B. The profits will go towards a cancer charity and a diabetic group. Tickets are sold out. Later on , we hope to organise a fashion show at The Diplomat Hotel. We are going to donate money towards a new changing rooms, which are being planned for Felinfoel park.

We have been very successful and have raised over £40,000 towards various causes including; breast cancer; prostrate cancer; asthma; chairs for the hospice; local schools; sports groups etc.

During our time together we have had changes in our members but continue to be a very happy group who enjoy each other's company and the work we do.

The current committee is made up of:
Cllr Hugh Richards- Chairman
Susan Thomas - Secretary
Margaret Richards - Treasurer

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Click on the 'Ffrindiau Felinfoel' category to see photos from the 2008 Brewery Fair.

Here are some of the photos that group members took in their meeting at the White Lion:

Celebrating Success in Llwynhendy

Llwynhendy Communities First held a Celebration Evening last Thursday at the Bryn & Trallwm Sports & Social Club.

The event recognised and celebrated the achievements and successes of community groups and their members in the Llwynhendy.

Local volunteers and young people were presented with Certificates of Achievement to an audience of group members, residents, councillors and representatives of local organisations.

The following groups were recognised:

• Back to Basics
  Llwynhendy Events Committee
• Llwynhendy Youth Group for their work on the Llwyn yr Ynys residential complex Garden Project and the Llwyn yr Ynys Christmas Dinner event
• The Subway Project, which worked closely with Parc y Scarlets

Chair of Llanelli Rural Council Mari Davis and her consort, Leader of Llanelli Rural Council Jim Jones

Llwynhendy community group members

Llwynhendy Communities First Development Officer Lindy Butler with local police who have supported community groups

Some residents of Llwyn yr Ynys with the complex's Warden, Lynette Williams (right)

Volunteers with the Back to Basics group holding their Certificates of Achievement with Chairman of the Llwynhendy Communities First Partnership, Eunydd Thomas

Members of Llwynhendy Events Committee receiving their certificates from Eunydd

The Llwyn yr Ynys Christmas Dinner Team with Lynette Williams, Warden of the complex

Lynette with members of the Youth Group who worked on the Llwyn yr Ynys Garden Project

Last year Llwynhendy Communities First undertook a project with the Social Risk Fund for the older members of Llwynhendy Youth Group. This involved 12 young people gaining construction site cards, enabling them to gain employment. The project was included in the Communities First Making a Difference booklet published by the Welsh Assembly Government (which can be found here).

Following the success of the first project, funding for a second one was secured, which resulted in two young men being qualified to drive LGV Class 2 lorries and a young lady passing her LGV theory test.

Alex Butler, who is now qualified to drive an LGV Class 2 lorry

A Subway Project member receives his certificate and a gift voucher from Head of Regional Development & Recruitment for the Scarlets, Gareth Jenkins

Dedicated volunteer Tina Miles with Eunydd

The dedication of local volunteer Tina Miles was highlighted. Tina volunteers with almost all of the community groups in Llwynhendy and has recently set up a coffee morning at the Llwyn yr Ynys complex. Tina was Highly Commended for the WCVA Volunteer of The Year Award at the CAVS Volunteer Centre Awards Evening 2008.

The final achievement that was celebrated during the evening was Llwynhendy Youth Group's successful grant application to the Big Lottery Fund for a new multi-use games area (or a MUGA). So strong was the grant application that the Big Lottery Fund awarded the group £28,000 more than they'd applied for!

Member of the Big Lottery Fund Wales Committee Mike Theodoulou presents the cheque for £134,000 to Youth Group members. The four young people pictured collected 500 signatures in support of a petition for a MUGA.

Carmarthenshire Connect attended the Celebration Evening to play back a compilation of the videos recorded by Subway Project members using our Busbi camcorders. The projector was also used to display photos of group activity collected by Communities First staff and through the Carmarthenshire Connect project.

Street Art Workshops

As advertised on this blog, two street art workshops were held in the Glanymor Communities First ward last week.

Organised by the Community Safety Partnership, the workshops were delivered by professional graffiti artist Lloyd Roberts.

The first workshop was held at the Antioch Centre on Thursday and the second at Bwlch Youth & Community Centre on Friday.

There was an excellent attendance to the workshops by local young people who got the opportunity to learn about painting street art and the benefits of legal graffiti.

Carmarthenshire Connect joined the young people in Friday's workshop. Here are some of the photos and a video they took using our Sony Ericsson mobile phone camera:

Lloyd detailing the first graffiti board made during the workshop

The finished board - 'CYMUNED' (Welsh for community)

Lloyd lays out the guidelines for the second board

A workshop participant then follows the guidelines

Some detailing work

Adding the top layer of letters

The almost-finished board - 'COMMUNITY'

Lloyd explains the benefits of the street art workshop

The young people in the workshop then went on to create some graffiti boards of their names.

The graffiti boards will be on display in Llanelli town centre in the near future. Look out for them in the in window of the old Landy Electricals store store in Stepney Aracde, which is off Stepney Street.

Felinfoel Party Evening

Felinfoel Senior Citizens teamed up with the Felinfoel Walking Group for a party evening, held at the Tirynys complex last Friday.

The highlight of the evening was a superb performance by cover singer Chris Caine. Chris performed covers of songs by a range of artists from Neil Diamond to Duffy.

The ladies of the Senior Citizens and Walking Group having a good time with Chris Caine.

Everyone brought a bottle and a plate for the buffet, which added up to a delicious selection of nibbles.

Presenting the buffet

Of course, this being an event organised by Felinfoel Senior Citizens, the chance to start off the evening with a few games of bingo couldn't be resisted! Luckily, not too much wine had been drunk at that stage, so everyone could still concentrate on the numbers.

Great music, lovely food and good company made a thoroughly enjoyable evening for all.

Here are some photos taken by group members using Carmarthenshire Connect's mobile phone camera:

Chris sings...

...to a captivated audience.